Barge.



"L. GRANGES.

BARGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I9, i914- www@ Figi.

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Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

L. GRANGES.

BARGE.

APPLLCATION FILED MAY 19, 1914.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ANU/7m LOUIS GRANGES, 0F AGEN, FRANCE.

BARGE.

Application filed May 19, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS GRANGES, a citi- Zen of the Republic of France, and resident of Agen, France, have invented new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Barges, which are fully set forth in the Jfollowing specification.

This invention relates to barges, and the object of the invention is to provide an improved barge which shall be arranged in such a manner as to permit discharge into the water of various materials contained in the barge, such, for instance, as those obtained from dredging under the action of the weight of the contained materials.

It is broadly characterized by the fact that the bottom of the barge is constituted by two luid-tight caissons insuring stability and buoyancy, and these caissons which are adapted to be joined when the barge is loaded can, by the operation of a suitable device, be separated so as to form a passage for the discharge of the contained materials.

The barge which forms the object of the invention is shown, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of thel barge. Fig. 2 is a plan. Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sections showing respectively the disposition of the barge when the caissons are joined and when separated with a view to their unloading.

In carrying the invention into eii'ect as illustrated, the body of the barge is composed oi two parts A and B, arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal aXis, and each constituted by a fluid-tight caisson which may be walled internally. These caissons, which insure the stability and buoyancy of the barge are arranged underneath the deck sections C and D, respectively, which in the position shown in Fig. 3, serve to sup ort the material.

The caissons andB are hinged or pivotally connected together at, or adjacent their ends at E and Gr, and intermediate their ends at F, (see Fig. 2), and they support one or more cross-beams I-I suitably distributed. These beams carry one or more hydraulic jacks, the pistons of which, for instance, are fixed at J on the beams, while the cylinders have fastened to them collars K, to which latter are pivoted the upper ends of upstanding projections or blocks, secured at their lower ends to the deck sections, as shownrin Fig. 4:, although a reverse arrangement of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ang. 29, i916.

Serial No. 839,511.

jack connections may, however, be adopted, 1f desired. This arrangement of jacks may be replaced by any other system permitting of maintaining the two decks in contact.

Under the action of the force exerted in an upward direction by the jack or jacks, the points J and K are caused to approach each other, and the caissons A and B, which are pivotally connected adjacent their outer edges at M and N to the cross-beams H, tend to approach each other also: In this movement, the two caissons swing about the points M and N which are susceptible of a lateral displacement in a direction longitudinal of the beams H. In the position shown in Fig. 3, the barge is ready to be charged.

It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the precise manner in which the two caissons A and B are caused to approach each other, as above described, since any other device or mechanism which acts in substantially the same manner as the jack or jacks may be used in place thereof.

In order to eii'ect discharge of the materials, the water is first discharged from the hydraulic jacks, and then the materials, under the action of their own weight, eiect the separation of the caissons until the open-A ing between them is suilicient to permit of the free passage of the materials into the water. The subsequent closure of the barge is effected either by again admitting water into the jacks, or in some other suitable manner.

As above stated, the points M and N are susceptible of a lateral displacement when the decks C and D are closing. Thus as the inner edges of the decks approach each other, the outer edges move outwardly thereby giving to the decks a slight upward and outward sliding movement which greatly reduces the amount of resistance oifered by the water when the decks are closing.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. A barge of the character specified, comprising a skeleton frame, water-tight caissons provided with decks disposed on either side of the longitudinal axis of said barge and having their outer edges pivoted to said skeleton frame, a vertically operating means supported on said skeleton frame and connected to the inner edges of said caissons to cause saidv inner edges to close together, the pivoted outer edges of said caissons being mounted for outwardly sliding movement during the closing movement of the inner edges.

2. A barge of the character specified, comprising a skeleton frame, Water-tight lcaissons provided With decks disposed on either side of the longitudinal axis of said barge and having their outer edges pivoted and slidably mounted on said skeleton frame, pistons IiXed centrally to said skeleton frame, cylinders mounted 'to slide vertically on said cylinders, andv upstanding projections rigidly secured to said decks and having their free ends pivoted to said cylinders, whereby said outer edges of the decks will be caused to move outwardly When their inner edges are approaching each other.

In testimony whereof I have signed this sperciiieation in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

LOUIS GRANGES. Witnesses:

EMILE SEDRET, 'HANsoN C. Coxn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each,r by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

